Stop Fast-Tracked Bill that Could Weaken Clean Energy Requirements

Connecticut’s energy future is too important to make decisions hastily. Please join us in asking the state legislature to slow down and let the public process work rather than rushing major changes that could weaken our renewable energy standards.

Connecticut’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) sets targets for how much of the state’s electricity must come from renewable energy sources, and what kinds of energy count as renewable. The Energy & Technology Committee recently approved a bill that makes big changes to the RPS, including counting Canadian hydropower as renewable energy.

Just two days prior, however, as the bill was debated at its public hearing, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection released a draft study…also about how to restructure the RPS. Although the study will now go through a series of public hearings of its own and won’t be finalized until May, the state Senate could vote on the bill as early as next week–before the public and stakeholders have had a chance to weigh in.

Call the State Senate

Please take five minutes to ask state senators to slow down and get public input before making decisions that could weaken the RPS, affect our air quality, our clean energy industry, and our electricity prices for years to come.

Call Senate Leadership

Majority Leader Martin Looney: 860-240-0375

President Pro Tempore Don Williams: 860-240-8634

Call Your Own Senator

Call the appropriate switchboard and ask to be connected to your state senator’s office.

You will be connected to an aide or an answering machine. Simply say something like, “Hi, I’m [your name] from [your town], and I’m calling about SB 1138, An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Clean Energy Goals. I’m worried that the legislature is moving too fast to make a fully-informed decision about changes that could weaken the RPS. Please tell Senator [name] that I think the legislature should act only on the most time-sensitive parts of the bill for now, and wait on the rest until after hearing public input on DEEP’s RPS study. That is the best way to ensure that the final plan will create green jobs in Connecticut and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible.”

If you speak with an aide, please ask what the senator’s position on SB 1138 is, and let us know what the aide says. Thank you!